Back when they built the various lines of the RhB one of the credos was “it has to fit into the landscape”. “It” also extending to the tunnel portals, which makes for a great variety of different forms. Just what one is looking for to set the mood.
The start
One of nine
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/Seedorf-MuotSued02_s.jpg)
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/Seedorf-MuotSued03_s.jpg)
Nature’s weathering will follow
Looking good Hans
Scribing all those lines must have driven you MAD !!!
That foam is neat stuff to work with.
Todd Haskins said:
Looking good Hans
Scribing all those lines must have driven you MAD !!!
That foam is neat stuff to work with.
Thank you, actually it’s not bad in LS. I did plenty of portals, retaining walls and bridges in HO, commercially. Working from proto pictures to get the stones and the shades correct.
The “back-filling” will be done with toned concrete.
Nice! How well does that foam hold up to direct sunlight?
Ray, its not so much the direct sunlight, its rain and critters that I would worry about. Rain will erode the tops of foam objects, unless they are protected. And round here, ants love to borough through the foam.
I’ve had a pink foam bridge pier out for over 7+ years. It is protected from direct rain, but gets some heavy splash. Only chunk missing is from where I kicked it a year or so ago. The wooden bridge running across it has nearly rotted away and is slated for replacement.
John, yes my arched bridge hasn’t eroded any, since its capped with Hardiboard. But its got a lot of tunnels burrowed through it from the ants.
Wow. Does that ever look sharp! Nice job.
I did a foam bridge more than a few years back, but the squirrels here kept thinking they could sharpen their teeth on it.
Try casting portals in that outdoor Plaster of Paris that they use for garden ornaments
It really is very hard wearing stuff…totally different to the usual POP we know.
In the UK its known as Cassinis Outdoor Plaster.
Like ordinary POP I believe it can be coloured when being mixed by using the special powders.
See here for info
http://www.maragon.co.uk/cassini.html#Init
Should be available elsewhere under another name probably.
Thank you Gentlemen!
There are commercial, cast-concrete RhB portals available, however I like the “a special one for each location” method. Building a separate mould for each would be a bit of overkill.
The difference between artificial and natural light
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/MuotNord02_s.jpg)
(http://www.rhb-grischun.ca/P1a/MuotNord03_s.jpg)
Like the others it needs some blending with concrete.
Gee, all you need now is a critter looking out from in there.
David Maynard said:
Gee, all you need now is a critter looking out from in there.
Both Raven (the dog) and Machiavelli (the cat) liked walking through the tunnels prior to the portals being installed.
Machiavelli’s specialty is hunting chipmunks and other rodents, he’s very good at it. 
(http://rhb-grischun.ca/phpBB3/images/smilies/23.gif)
Nice Job HJ!
here is one I built before the move, guess it’s about 6 years old, and spent its life outside standing around waiting on someone to build a tunnel around it 
Believe it was Wormy Cypress I used
Thanks Cale,
OK here they are in sequence starting from the stairs
Naz North
Waterfall South
Waterfall North
Muot South
Muot North
Seedorf South
Seedorf North
Ready for painting are the Piz Styro portals which leaves five more to do after that. A lot of tunnels on the 1:22.5 RhB.
Great name for a cat.
Tom Ruby said:
Great name for a cat.
He came with the name, someone in the previous family developed an allergy.
I’m certain SWMBO would have given him a different name. I had to get her up to speed on his namesake.
Nice work Hans .
Mike Brit
Good job!
